Chapter 1: Burning Desire for Blood
Notes:
Changed the chapter a bit, made Shinjuro a little less OOC!
That's good, anyway, enjoy this rewritten chapter.
The outcome is still the same to readers who read the unedited and not beta read version of this from Google Docs and I.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Hakuji couldn't stop the overwhelming tears from sliding down his face. His feelings, this feeling , it was overwhelming. He only ever felt it the day his father had committed suicide.. He never believed nor wanted to feel it ever again. Yet here he was, crouching on the rough floor of the dining room. Wet droplets of his guilt collided with a kimono. A stained red , pink , kimono. One he had come to see every day.
The two people he had grown to love as time went on, Koyuki and Keizo, his soon to be wife and joyous master, were both lying lifeless on the ground. Neither were breathing, nor laughing , like they used to. Both of their loving faces, once filled with happiness and determination, were now covered to hide their pitiful looks of life before death.
His tears kept falling as Hakuji's mind wandered within his memories and thoughts..
"Yes," he remembered clearly saying to her, and Hakuji fully believed his words that night. The dead sky was full of life courtesy of crashing reds and yellows which overtook the darkness of the night.
"I will become stronger than anyone else," his hands intertwined with hers and his fingers carefully held both of her hands dearly close, allowing the warm calloused hands engulf her fragile ones. The fireworks kept on squealing and breaking in the sky, and each one made the moment even more special.
"And protect you for my entire life."
It was a true promise, filled with trusting words and soft emotions.. But it was a promise that Hakuji couldn't keep . A promise that he could never forget, a promise that he broke.
The rough and beaten hands of Hakuji, made from a practice of his master's style, lifted Koyuki's body and pulled her close by his chest. The red from her kimono quickly stained his yukata, but Hakuji couldn't care less .
Her small warmth, the one Hakuji always felt when he grazed her skin, was no longer present.. That warmth was forever gone and could no longer be felt on his hand that cupped around the back of her neck to pull her body even closer . The mat that hid her face had long since fallen and Koyuki's eyes were stapled closed.
A large streak of red, of blood, dribbled down her lips, all the way down to her chin which dripped onto her kimono.. Her eyes stayed shut in her final moments, but it didn't stop Hakuji from imagining the pure despair and surprise in her eyes as she took her last breath.
Tears couldn't stop running and pouring down Hakuji's face. Gasps, pleads, and choked sobs strained from his throat.
Hakuji should've stayed at the Dojo.
He should've tested the water first. He should've beaten , no, he should've killed those sick bastards before they even got the chance to gather any poison! Hakuji felt guilty, he felt despair. He knew he could've done more , he should've done more. This all could've been prevented. This all could've been saved .
Weeps of his sorrows continued spilling from his mouth, brushing lightly on the lifeless face of Koyuki.. Hakuji missed them, he already longed to see their smiles again. He longed to see them laughing, having fun, training him, enjoying new things.. Hakuji desperately wanted to pretend that this all just some bad dream, that it was all a stupid nightmare that he could wake from with a simple pinch..
But deep inside, Hakuji knew this was real.
They poisoned them, they murdered them. They took his last two remaining joys all because they wanted a piece of land . A land they couldn't have because they were too weak to successfully defeat Hakuji and Keizo in a fair battle.. If it was that important to them, if it was that special that they would, and have, taken people's lives for it.. Hakuji would've asked to move . The dojo, the building itself, didn't matter . Sure, Hakuji would miss it, he spent most of his time here after his father died! But , Hakuji would miss Keizo and Koyuki more.
He was missing Keizo and Koyuki more.
They were stripped from his life and died a slow death, one so painful as this.. The reality of their passing kept punching him in the face. Much like how Keizo introduced himself when Hakuji still acted as a deranged criminal. He was mindless back then, casted to the side and given the nickname 'Demon child'. If Keizo hadn't shown up, Hakuji wouldn't know what to do, he would probably still be wandering and picking fights. Maybe he would even be dead.
Back then, the only thing Hakuji knew were his fists and the wanting desire to see his father again. That despair, that feeling for revenge, it was rising again. The feeling to punch something, to wreak havoc for those he lost, it was coming back and..
Hakuji welcomed it with open arms.
Weak, fucking, bastards everyone was . That dojo, those people , everyone who ever wronged him and his family were selfish pricks. They were all the demons, not Hakuji. They beat people, they made medicine so fucking expensive, and they killed people. People Hakuji loved, people who saw Hakuji, for Hakuji. People who gave him light to his life.
The world, everything, everyone but them.. Should've died .
They are gonna die.
Even if it won't bring them back, even if it didn't matter in the end.. Hakuji was going to kill them. He was going to destroy , rip apart and vandalize that Dojo. From the walls of the building, all the way down to the disgusting people who inhabited it.
His hands stopped shaking and they slowly placed Koyuki down, safely letting her body and soul rest in peace.. Now it was time for Hakuji to find peace, peace in killing their killers. Peace in getting revenge.
His legs bent and arose from the wooden floor and his body turned sharply right after, pointing itself toward the exiting door. The people from earlier, the people who informed him of their death only after he arrived. The people who told him the Dojo did it, were now staring at him from that door. All of their eyes showed snippets of fear and worry for Hakuji, but Hakuji couldn't care less.
He didn't bother to say anything, he didn't bother to express what he felt to them. The only thing he did was nudge one of them to the side so he could walk out the door. He brushed some shoulders, heard and tuned out some words, he didn't even spare a glance at them. His body kept moving, kept pursuing , and his feet kept digging themselves into the ground which dirtied them further.. But they wouldn't be as dirty as his hands when he was done with those people. Those wretched, weak , selfish, people. Monsters .
Anger and hatred boiled within him, no one was gonna stop him now.. No one was gonna stop Hakuji's fists, no one was gonna get in the way of Hakuji's revenge for the family he lost . For the family he loved .
He passed and left through the gate of Keizo's Dojo, feeling much more distant and depressed then the time he left for his father's grave. To Hakuji, him leaving, that was a sign of no turning back. He already made the choice, he already had the image laid in his brain. He decided, and was going, to brutally kick and kill their asses. He was gonna make sure nothing was left of that Dojo..
That corrupt, full of bull-shit , Dojo.
He wanted, he was going, to make sure they hurt. That they pleaded , that they weren't shown even the slightest form of human empathy from Hakuji..
As Hakuji swiveled and faced the path which led to that Dojo, in the corner of his eye, he caught sight of something coming from the road down to the city. Something with a head of yellow and orange, almost like a blazing fire.. Hakuji didn't try, nor bother, to get a good look. Right now, Hakuji had only one thing on his mind.
Murder.
He steadily began to trek the path, leaving whatever that yellow thing was to do its own business. However, Hakuji couldn't leave it alone for much longer as he heard footsteps approaching from behind. To that, a fairly noticeable vein surged from Hakuji's skin, built from annoyance and anger. He didn't want anyone following him. He didn't want, nor need, anyone to stop him.
So Hakuji quickened his pace, obviously attempting to lose the damn thing.. But when he heard the following steps do the same, Hakuji just knew he was being tailed. From there, Hakuji just broke into a full out run down the road. Yet the other steps followed swiftly behind.
Why?
Just why was this thing following him?!
Shinjuro Rengoku was a rather outgoing man, he had traveled throughout all of Japan throughout his years. Though the reason was not for his own adventurous pleasure, in fact, he had no desire or will to ever travel before. He was actually quite tired of it, annoyed even. 'Before', being before he obtained his job as a Demon Slayer, as well as the Flame Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Due to his job, he has to travel throughout all of Japan for each of his new jobs. The man can be gone for days or even months because of this, it was even worse because he was constantly bombarded with new jobs and new demons to kill right after each job.
It was tiring, he really needed to tell the little Ubuyashiki about this. Perhaps he can cut him a small break between each new request. Maybe then Shinjuro could actually teach the kids more about breathing styles.
Perhaps he should even retire just to teach them, as well for his age. Shinjuro was already 43 years old, which was generally around the time Pillars and Slayers alike started growing fatigued from old age.. Yes , Shinjuro should consider retiring soon. This way, he wouldn't be a burden to the Corps, as well as he may actually be able to teach his 3 kids some more flame breathing.
Kyojuro already knew the forms of the style all from a book that Shinjuro lent him. It was surprising how quickly his son got everything down, so Shinjuro guessed he could probably do most of it on his own. After all, the only thing he needed to do now was perfect each form, which is done over time and in practice instead of new information.
Iguro, he was was still having troubles with a lot of things. Both from training and normal life itself. Kyojuro never seemed to bother to teach Iguro about normal life since he found that there no need to, but to Shinjuro and many others, that was stupid. The boy was 16 and only learnt how to properly count and use currency a month ago, only because Shinjuro had to take them all shopping and Iguro wanted something very expensive. If Shinjuro were to retire, he could certainly help and explain a lot more to him. That would be good for his health.
Then there was Senjuro, who Shinjuro originally was going to let be. Seeing as his youngest son was scared of holding a real blade itself, Shinjuro didn't want to train him to hold it everyday except for in the kitchen. However, Kyojuro insisted that Senjuro should get some form of training eventually. Just in case he would grow out of the fear. To this, Shinjuro reluctantly agreed.
Though as of right now, Shinjuro didn't have to worry about any of that.
Since right now, the Flame Hashira was doing a Slayer job in a town close to his own. He would have to thank the young Ubuyashiki for pulling the strings and assigning him this job, though Shinjuro wasn't sure if it was really him who did it, but he trusted that the boy did. Shinjuro refused to call Ubuyashiki, 'master' or anything formal like that due to Shinjuro being much older than him and had worked for the man before him as well. 'San' was the closest Shinjuro would do, but that was on rare occasions when all Hashira were present..
Back to the job, Shinjuro had finished it hastily. The demon was a rather easy find once Shinjuro determined the type of people the demon enjoyed eating.. Young women, typically ranging around the age of 14 to 20, was its preference. It was typical.
The demon was beheaded and killed before the sun even went down, which gave the demon no advantage against Shinjuro. A small smile formed on the man's lips at the thought of him going home early for a quick rest.. As well as greeting his children of course. He sheathed his sword in a hurry and walked out of the storage house, leaving the demon to slowly disintegrate under its roof.
"Did you hear?" a voice gossiped, not very far from Shinjuro's vicinity.
He glanced at the group of adults to his right, not very far indeed . They were all gossiping about something, something that Shinjuro had no business hearing. Yet, Shinjuro was always a 'paranoid' man and his ears failed him as they began to eavesdrop anyway.
"About what?" the voice of a woman asked.
" Keizo and Koyuki," Shinjuro had no idea who those people were. "they were found dead at the dojo today!"
Shinjuro blinked. This was not the kind of gossip he had expected. He honestly assumed it was gonna be about someone's relationship, or a rumor of a secret of some sorts. He expected something childish, something silly but intriguing.. But this, this wasn't childish. It's a rumor of death , which made Shinjuro stay for a little longer.
"Really?" another woman blurted. "Oh my.."
"Yeah," the original voice tilted her head. "Hakuji's still missing though." Shinjuro squinted at nothing, keeping himself from completely staring at the group. They say people can feel eyes on them, so Shinjuro tried not to stare. Though, it seems there was another in the deaths of 'Keizo and Koyuki'.
"Well the boy always does visit his father's grave around this time.."
"Yes, but I'm worried. What if he-"
Shinjuro stopped listening from there, he already had a scenario made in his mind. Whoever this 'Hakuji' person was, was probably turned into a demon. This 'Keizo and Koyuki' were most likely his first victims. It was such a coincidence that a Slayer had been here, much less a Hashira. Shinjuro pondered how close these 3 were, Keizo, Koyuki, and Hakuji..
Shinjuro would make sure to kill Hakuji and spare him from the sorrows of killing those he loved. Though even if what he assumed wasn't the truth, he still had to check if it was true. So Shinjuro decided to take a small detour before he would head home, a detour toward a Dojo which strayed a bit farther from the town. The gossip group was certainly helpful in gaining information.
Shinjuro turned and walked away from the area, leaving those behind to their talks.
The Flame Hashira had no real need to be exceptionally quick, to go at his top speed to ascend the path, there was no need as of yet. After all, it would decrease his stamina and would leave him tired in a battle. Plus, it was still bright out. Meaning, that if the murder happened in the day, the demon was bound to be trapped within the Dojo's walls.
"Hakuji," a voice called from up ahead, Shinjuro's attention perked up from the yell. "wait!" his hand stayed ready to draw his sword if needed, his pace slightly quickened as the bloodied Dojo reached his view.
Yet Shinjuro was met with a surprise when he saw a boy with black hair exiting the Dojo gates. He already assumed from the shout that the boy was Hakuji, the missing one from the gossip group's discussion. What surprised Shinjuro was that the boy was actually human, not a demon like Shinjuro had anticipated. Hakuji seemed much younger then Shinjuro, hence why Shinjuro dubbed him as just a boy. However, he was still older than Kyojuro. His eyelashes were fairly unique as well, pink instead of black like most. It was an exceptional sight.
However, what caught most of Shinjuro's attention was that Hakuji was walking away from the dojo. Down a different path. He was walking away from where, most likely, the bodies of his loved ones were held.
'Did he even stop to mourn?' Shinjuro bit his tongue, he hoped that the boy had paid his respects. Otherwise, that would be rather rude of him, but Shinjuro already deduced that something was wrong with the kid when he walked away like that.
So Shinjuro decided to follow him, just in case. After all, the sun was going to set soon.. Perhaps Shinjuro should've been faster with his ascent up the path.
Only moments after trailing him, Hakuji seemed to notice Shinjuro. With the way his pace grew faster, Shinjuro definitely knew he was acknowledged. He copied Hakuji and within moments, Hakuji had started sprinting. Which Shinjuro, again, copied.. Tailing behind the boy easily.
Shinjuro probably could've easily beaten the kid in speed and overtake him, however, Shinjuro drew back. Staying close behind the boy rather than in front. He wanted to see exactly where the boy was going. If he was in front, he wouldn't know where Hakuji was going would he? So he let Hakuji be the one leading.
The two kept racing down the path with Hakuji trying to lose Shinjuro, while Shinjuro tried to stay with Hakuji. Now, Shinjuro had to admit, Hakuji had good stamina. There were barely any signs of him growing tired, except for the faint breaths which gasped from the kid.. Shinjuro should probably stop Hakuji soon and confront him in general. The sunlight was growing dimmer and smaller, with that in mind, his kids would probably grow weary and panic since he told them he would be back by dawn today. That would be bad.
Shinjuro was about to engage when Hakuji suddenly stopped in his place, prompting Shinjuro to swiftly do the same. Hakuji's body lifted up and down from exhaustion and Shinjuro wondered if he would finally talk with him properly now.
Hakuji shifted around to face him, and his expression showed that he was obviously pissed off at Shinjuro for the chase.
"Why are you following me?" the statement was blank, but not lacking in anger. He was grateful that Hakuji didn't fully shout at him.
"Why are you running from your dojo?" Shinjuro bit back. "Haven't your loved ones just died?" it's a bit blunt, the question, Shinjuro supposed. But he must know why.
A twitch in Hakuji's eyes told Shinjuro that he asked something that ticked Hakuji off .
"Answer my damn question!" that time, Hakuji did yell, but Shinjuro knew he held himself back.
Shinjuro took a moment to ponder, but his answer was clear. In fact, he already told Hakuji the answer. His loved ones just died and he's not even bothering to help bury them.. It was weird. It was familiar, and Shinjuro didn't like that.
After she had died, after Ruka, his lovely wife, had died.. Shinjuro felt empty. He felt enraged. It was like a chunk of his heart had been thrown into the ocean, forever lost to the crashes of the sea. He wanted to blame someone, he wanted to hurt someone. He almost did so with his kids, he almost hurt Kyojuro and Senjuro in a fit of anger. He still couldn't forgive himself for that.
Shinjuro had seen the hatred boiling in Hakuji and knew the boy was going to do something. He was going to hurt someone, just like Shinjuro had almost done.
"Like I said," Shinjuro started calmly, but he didn't bother to hide the annoyed tone imbued in his voice. "your loved ones just died and you're not there to mourn." another twitch to the eye, another vein pulsing from Hakuji.
"I'm worried."
Shinjuro watched as Hakuji briefly stood there, confused from the stranger's announcement of his concern for the boy who just lost two of, who Shinjuro guessed, were his friends. He watched as Hakuji's face went from annoyance to confusion in a signal statement, but then it changed again. It went back to the ruthless anger that Shinjuro initially saw.
"I," the boy slightly stuttered out. "I don't even know you!"
Shinjuro nodded, "Neither do I." well, at least, he didn't know Hakuji well . He knew more about Hakuji then Hakuji knew about Shinjuro, since Hakuji didn't even know Shinjuro's name yet.
"Then why are you worried?!" Hakuji moved a foot forward and Shinjuro didn't move, though he was aware that Hakuji might attack him soon.
"Because." Shinjuro looked Hakuji directly in his clouded eyes, clouded from the pure rage that dug into him. "You remind me of myself."
To that, Hakuji didn't say anything for a few seconds. He was probably processing what Shinjuro meant by that, but it took him an awful long while then most enraged answers. Shinjuro knew a thing or two about them.
"I still don't fucking know you." Hakuji grumbled, his hand bawling itself into a fist. Shinjuro's eyes narrowed at that, he shifted his own position to get ready for an attack. "So leave me alone." another glare from Hakuji was shot at Shinjuro, which he responded to with a short sigh.
"No." he simply stated. Another vein found itself pumping from Hakuji. " What are you planning to do?"
'The nerve of this guy.'
Hakuji was already pissed enough. He was already annoyed enough. He was already.. He was already feeling enough .
This guy , this weird, out of nowhere, guy . Was not making Hakuji feel any better! Hakuji found the man's words dumb, along with his bright hair! Everything Hakuji saw about this guy seemed dumb ! Down to his outfit, wearing a cape, all the way to his stupid, stubbled, face!
Hakuji could feel his veins bursting from rage.
'Stupid, ass, I don't have time for you. I need to..'
His mind quickly flashed vivid images of their faces, those weaklings' faces. How once Hakuji could get there, they would plead for mercy that Hakuji wouldn't give. They would crumble on the ground beneath his Master's Soryu Style, repenting and apologizing for everything they've ever done only for their repentance to not be accepted by the one they're apologizing to.. It would be a disgraceful end for such disgraceful people.. A brutal end for them too.
"What are you planning to do?" the man asked, lowering his head slightly.
It was another stupid question that Hakuji didn't need to answer. If the man found out what Hakuji was about to do, he just knew the man would try to stop him.. Not that the man wasn't already trying to stop Hakuji right now, but Hakuji really didn't wanna be interrupted. Even if it's unintentional, the man is getting in the way of Hakuji pounding those guys into dust.. Into nothing but red stains on the wall.
He would be satisfied then.
Satisfied with their guts, their flesh, their scheming brains broken and ripped apart, splaying across the main room, leaving a bloodbath in its wake. Satisfied with hearing their screams of help tearing throughout the area, but their begs would go unnoticed by the world except for Hakuji. Satisfied watching as they squirmed with little life left in their bodies, only for them to be stomped on and killed in a swift movement by Hakuji's feet..
Satisfied in hearing their bones crunch and crack, smelling the disgusting stench of blood waft around the room, feeling their blood drip and swish along his skin, watching their faces distort and cry with fear and agony, tasting their rejected blood on the tip of his tongue.
Then he would be satisfied .
He would be satisfied knowing their agonizing deaths would bring peace to those murdered by them.. Poisoned by them.
"I said leave me alone." Hakuji breathed. He was quieter this time, the images and thoughts of doing all of that, kept him controlled. It kept him patient and waiting .
"And I said no." the man shot back.
Hakuji really wondered why he hadn't punched the man yet.
"What do you plan to do?" he asked for the second time. Hakuji wondered if he should just answer the guy honestly..
No, no , he really shouldn't .
Once again, the man was a complete stranger who's getting in Hakuji's way. Why should Hakuji tell him his revenge plans? He bit the inside of his cheek, his sharp canines quickly dug into it, leaving the slight feeling of a mark.
"None of your business."
"It is my business," he was getting on Hakuji's nerves. "if I'm right about what you're planning."
Hakuji shifted, squinting deeply at the man's face. The man stood up straight in response.
"You're planning on getting revenge right?" Hakuji wanted to punch him. "To hurt those who harmed your family?" the man spoke with emotion now, with spite .
Hakuji continued to stand there silently, allowing the man the freedom of speech.
"It's not right to do that," Hakuji's squint formed into a glare.
'It's not right to poison people either.' Hakuji countered in his mind, though not actually stating it aloud.
"revenge won't bring them back." and Hakuji knew that.. Hakuji already knew that!
"Shut up." his voice raised itself, no longer held back by the soothing thoughts of a room covered in the revolting insides of those he hated.
The man's eyebrows furrowed, clearly annoyed.
"No." Hakuji's nails dug into the palm of his hand. "You won't make yourself happy by getting revenge," the nails pushed further, leaving crescent marks on Hakuji's already bruised hands. "you'll just be hurting yourself by hurting other people."
"Shut up.." Hakuji's voice felt smaller . He despised it.
"Why don't you go visit their bodies once again?"
Hakuji hates him, he resents him, he despises him, and Hakuji doesn't even know his name. The nails scratched even deeper before Hakuji's body lunged forward. It didn't think straight, it didn't think of a plan or defense, it simply attacked out of pure hatred for the man in front of him. "I said shut up already!" Hakuji screamed, angling a punch out of blind anger..
To Hakuji's surprise, the man the punch was aimed at, had easily dodged. Hakuji finished up beside him, still recovering from the movement and thrust of the punch. A blur of motion out of the corner of his eye made Hakuji roll forward, successfully avoiding whatever the man tried to do.
The man's expression barely wavered. There was no sense of surprise or confusion from Hakuji's well performed evasion. Hakuji found it taunting.
Just how much did this guy know about Hakuji?
"Please stop." it was less of a pleading tone, but more of an annoyed and irritated one for the request.
That only fueled Hakuji's hate toward him. Hakuji quickly found his own pace and lunged forward once again. This time, instead of a simple strengthened punch, his leg reeled back for a blow. Hakuji was ready to kick the man directly on the side of his head, in fact, Hakuji almost did ..
If it wasn't for the guy's arm that is. The man had maneuvered his arm to block his head as Hakuji tried to kick it. It was quick and precise, something Keizo did a few times..
The man had fast reflexes indeed.
Pushing Hakuji's leg off of his arm, the man made his own attack. He used Hakuji's brief moment of trying to get his leg on the ground, to swerve behind Hakuji.
There was a swift pain to his back, neck? Hakuji couldn't tell, everything suddenly became drowsy and tiring, he felt his body collapsing but he didn't make an attempt to stand up. Then he noticed his vision blurring, darkness began to surround his sight as he realized he was blacking out. Hakuji's head was moments away from the grown as his eyes began to flutter closed..
Shinjuro let out a huff after all was said and done. He officially was holding an unconscious boy by his yukata, an alarming sight to most, but a relieving one to Shinjuro. Hakuji did end up attacking Shinjuro in the end, as he expected. The boy seemed to have a temper by the looks of it, accompanied by his rage, there was definitely a good chance that a fight would break out.. Shinjuro was glad that it ended quite quickly though.
Not long after, Shinjuro plopped Hakuji down by a tree, safely securing the boy from any type of falling. Normally, if Hakuji was a survivor of a demon he slaughtered, he would go get a nearby Kakushi to take care of him or find the boy's parents by himself.. But Hakuji, he knew by the looks of it that Hakuji had no one. He seemed to live in that Dojo with whoever Keizo and Koyuki were, but now the two were dead.
Meaning Hakuji would be left alone.
It would be inhumane of Shinjuro to just leave him there, after everything the boy's been through. But at the same time, Shinjuro had done it before to many children. The only reason he took Iguro in awas because the boy had clung to him like tar. Though, Shinjuro knew he couldn't leave this boy alone.
If he was looking for revenge, which he obviously was, he could hurt others or himself. That would obviously be bad . It would also make everything Shinjuro just did irrelevant and a waste of his time. Shinjuro didn't wanna acknowledge that, nor make it a reality..
Shinjuro stared at the boy with a light in his eyes, letting him ponder what to do with the stray child. Now that he thought about it, this scenario was very similar to Iguro.
Iguro's family, a guild of rich thieves who worshipped a snake for their wealth. At least, that’s what Iguro told Shinjurou. They had all been killed, leaving Iguro with only a cousin still alive. A cousin that hated him for living instead of being sacrificed to a demon that had actually taken the lives of the Iguro family.. He had nowhere to go, no family to take care of him, and he ended up joining Shinjuro's family instead. Perhaps like Iguro, Shinjuro would have to take Hakuji in.
He both dreaded and admired the thought of a new child to train. A new tsuguko, that would make 3 if Hakuji were to join in. Well, 4, but Shinjuro wasn't quite sure about Senjuro. Though, 3 definitely seemed like a lot. 1 was enough already, but having 3 children to train?
Not many Hashiras had tsugukos during their time as Hashiras, both due to their intense training and the lack of time they had to train their students. It would require Shinjuro to retire to train him.. Them. Shinjuro already was gonna have to retire to train Kyojuro and Iguro, so retirement wasn't the problem. it was the sheer amount of children he had to train in the end. It would leave him without a break as always, and the money, the money.
To support 3 children who were reaching their teenage ages, and a 9 year old child who is too shy to ask a stranger for help. Adding as well as Shinjuro to the mix, that would be a lot of mouths to feed, bathe, and provide for in general. He would have to have a job so he couldn't just retire, not yet . Shinjuro facepalmed at the thought.
However, if Shinjuro were to leave Hakuji alone, who knows what the boy would do?
The most likely thing is that he would head straight back to wherever he was going and hurt someone, and again, that would make Shinjuro's actions completely unnecessary and a waste of his own time. So in conclusion, Shinjuro was now going to have to feed 1 more mouth at his estate.
Sighing with the thought of going poor in his mind, Shinjuro lifted Hakuji up from the tree, hoisting him over his right shoulder. Although, it is night time now. Shinjuro is fairly sure he would be able to get home safely, but he really hoped his kids at home weren't getting into trouble over his lack of appearance at dawn.. At least night wasn't as dangerous for the little town Shinjuro lived in. It was a home to many a Demon Slayer, both retired and still working. So the place was lined and surrounded with wisteria trees..
Now with a quick half-smile, Shinjuro began his journey home.. With a new buddy named Hakuji too.
Notes:
Okay, in case of confusion, I had to scale back Hakuji's age a bit and stuff. Only by like one. So here's the current age:
Hakuji: 17
Shinjuro: 43
Kyojuro: 15
Obanai: 16
Senjuro: 9Sorry if the ages aren't too in line with the actual Demon Slayer timeline, I tried my best!
Hope you enjoyed friends~
Chapter 2: Room for Realization
Summary:
Hakuji wakes up in a room by himself.
Notes:
Okay, so this chapter was kinda shit. I'll admit. I didn't like the ending, I kinda just wrote this in a day out of panic. So it's a bit rushed at the end, sorry, I might change it in the future so stay tuned?
TW!!
Bugs
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The ground crunched beneath Shinjuro's feet, and the noise filled the otherwise silent night with sound. The Hashira, who should've been home by dawn, was now walking home from his mission which he completed around an hour ago. He truly should've been home by dawn and it did seem that way with how quickly the mission went by. However, the man is now late and walking in the dark of night because in that same hour ago, Shinjuro had knocked out a kid.
A teen with short black hair, ruffled and messy from the distraught of the fight from earlier. A fight that Shinjuro technically won, beating a child is not something Shinjuro indulges in, but he had to tonight. The teen's pink eyelashes seemed to sparkle in the moonlight, though, that was an exaggeration. Still, having pink eyelashes was not common. Just like how Shinjuro's hair wasn't common.
Hakuji, the teen, still laid dormant on Shinjuro's shoulder. The young boy hadn't stirred once in his sleep, in fact, he was acting as a rather peaceful sleeper. Throughout the continuing journey home, Hakuji hadn't snored or shifted once. Shinjuro actually had to check once if he was alive and that Shinjuro didn't just commit a human murder. The boy was alive, yes, thankfully. He was just a tranquil sleeper. A corpse of a sleeper. If Hakuji did occasionally move, it was because of Shinjuro repositioning him.
The fact that the boy was a silent sleeper definitely took Shinjuro by surprise. Just by the looks of it, no one would generally guess that Hakuji could be this quiet in his sleep. With his bursting anger and personality that Shinjuro saw when they first met, no one would assume he could ever be silent.. It was impressive, and it was handy. There wasn't a snore or movement in his rest! All 3 of Shinjuro's children at least made some sort of ruckus in their slumber.
Kyojuro snored lightly, Iguro mumbled out his dreams, and Senjuro changed positions often. To see Hakuji motionless, stripped of his bustling life, it certainly was a first..
The wafting scent of wisteria shook Shinjuro out of the memory of him checking on his children as they slept, remembering these habits easily. Shinjuro had come to check on the kids often, especially at night, it wasn't because of demons though. Shinjuro had full faith in the wisteria repelling the damn things. No, Shinjuro didn't want to admit, but he was constantly worried.
All 3 of them normally stay up at night, waiting for his return and to catch him in the dark of the night. So he made it a habit to check on them while they were in their rooms at night. Though they weren't the ones who sprung this habit in the first place, it actually originated when Ruka.. When his wife became ill.
Shinjuro tilted his head up and he was met with the familiar sight of a far away town surrounded by the familiar branches of wisteria trees. He would be home soon, Shinjuro knew, so it was time to think of how he would approach Hakuji's growing rage.
The boy would certainly be confused upon waking up, followed up by anger and hatred toward Shinjuro for stealing his chance at vengence.
Shinjuro knew he couldn't blame Hakuji for this, for being mad and wanting a form of relief. The loss of someone close to you can make one do unspeakable things. Terrifying things. Still, however, Shinjuro would not hesitate to have a 'talk' with Hakuji if they were to get into an argument about how he was going to hurt people for the sake of finding peace for one's already decaying body.
So how should Shinjuro approach?
He could tackle it immediately, try to explain to Hakuji how revenge isn't a good escape for his grief. How this action could worsen one's life further and push them down a hole that they couldn't climb out of.. A hole Shinjuro himself almost fell into..
Shinjuro could also welcome Hakuji and act oblivious to his actions, treating him like an innocent boy with no sin in mind.
That was a stupid option.
To allow Hakuji to roam around his house with a rotting anger inside of him is dangerous.. One of the kids or someone from town could get hurt for even trying to talk to the boy. So putting Hakuji in a locked room was definitely on board and was probably what Shinjuro was going to do. But not forever. Shinjuro wasn't cruel enough to lock someone up for all of eternity for only thinking of doing something wrong.. If Hakuji did end up following vengence, however, Shinjuro might change his mind.
Either way, Shinjuro would confront him alone and see how well it goes. Depending on the answer, Hakuji would be let out in the morning, or well, whenever he woke up.
Nonetheless, Shinjuro was going to knock some sense into Hakuji whether he liked it or not. Shinjuro was going to nail the thought of 'revenge isn't good' into Hakuji's mind that it's the only thing he can ever recall when thinking of the damn word. He already did it to the other 3, courtesy of Kyojuro almost punching a man when he spoke to Senjuro in a wrong way. It was a good life lesson, so what's teaching it once more?
With the plan now in mind, Shinjuro continued down the path toward town. He was now thinking of ways he could explain to the kids how he had basically kidnapped a boy.. He had a feeling it would be much more simple then he thought.
Crouched down on the floor, Hakuji found himself refolding some laundry on the Dojo's engawa.
"Hakuji!" her voice called out to him from the room, the maiden poked her head out the door and beckoned him closer with her hand. "Dinner's ready!"
Hakuji looked up and blinked at her before lifting himself off the floor, leaving the basket of laundry behind..
What had he been doing? He couldn't recall anymore. Everything became a hazy blur and he didn't want to figure it out. The maiden's sweet voice was calling for him, calling for him to do what?
"Hurry, it'll get cold!"
Cold?
True, food does get cold when left out. Hakuji found a small smile on his face and pivoted his feet to turn his body toward her figure. Her face was still as bright and red as ever, it was a soothing sight. To witness her out of bed, no longer confined to it like her previous days.. Hakuji was glad that she got better over time. Her words were fogged over as his feet began to move. Each step felt long and slow and Hakuji wondered if it was always like this. His eyes watched as the maiden ducked behind the door, fully entering the room that Hakuji swore he would get to.
The wood creaked beneath his steps as Hakuji finally reached the door to the dinner room. The teen was met with the sight of his maiden and his hero enjoying a warm bowl of food at the table. It was such a soothing sight, Hakuji wanted it to last forever. The hero called out for him to sit and the maiden smiled with joy as he did.. The criminal felt fuzzy as he picked up the cup of water laid out for him. He was about to take a sip when his yukata was pulled on by fragile hands. He glanced over at the maiden and her red lips smiled further at the criminal, yet she didn't speak a word.
All of them gave gratitude for their meal as the maiden and hero ate. Yet, the criminal didn't taste a single bit of his food. Each time he attempted to reach for a piece of the feast, either the hero or the maiden would stop him abruptly. They would either grab him and smile, or strike up a quick conversation that barely lasted a few seconds. The criminal wondered if they did it on purpose, but he knew it couldn't have been pure coincidence that it happened each time the criminal wanted food that they would restrict him.
Yet another time as the criminal reached for at least the cup of water, the maiden pulled his hand away and held it in her own. He was met with another soft smile that warmed his heart as she slowly let go of his hand. Yes, the criminal loved her smile, he loved the hero's voice as well, but he also wanted to eat. If he had to be that blunt, then he would be.
"Hey, can I eat now?" he sheepishly blurted out, tilting his head to the side as the two didn't bat an eye. For now, he would take it as a yes.
The criminal went to pick something up as the hero tapped the table to get his attention, which it did. The criminal was now staring at the hero, waiting for something to happen, for him to strike up a conversation or actually tell him no. Yet the hero did no such thing, much like the maiden, he grinned at the criminal with pure happiness. It made the criminal confused, but he liked the smile none the less.. Until that once white and polished grin started leaking red.
The criminal's eyes widened at the sight and blood kept pouring out of the hero's mouth. He turned toward the maiden who was leaking all the same, but, was she always bleeding? The criminal couldn't tell, he went to grab her and check over her health, but his hold was met with nothing. It simply didn't make it, it didn't touch or grab her as intended. The criminal tried to do it again, but the result stayed the same. He couldn't save them.
Both the hero and maiden continued eating as if they weren't bleeding. They kept feasting and biting their food, drinking their water as if they were okay. That nothing was wrong with how their mouths dripped red with their insides.
Suddenly, the scene changed in the criminal's mind. The magnificent and plentiful feast that they were eating, that they were indulging in, was now replaced with the sight of rotten bugs and food. Some of the stuff barely looked edible, and all the rest had no chance of being properly consumed at all. Still, the hero and maiden kept indulging.
The two didn't stop feasting upon the atrocious meal in front of them, and as the maiden stuffed a centipede down her throat, the criminal thought he was going to be sick. Bugs and blood dribbled out of their mouths, staining their cheery smiles with disgusting remnants of death. This scene wasn't right, the hero devouring a bowl of spiders wasn't right. The criminal having to watch as the bugs crawled across their faces and broke apart in their teeth wasn't fucking right.
It was horrific. It was cruel. It was torture watching those the criminal loved ingest something so repulsive as they acted like everything they were doing was something they did every day! Hearing the wings of a bee getting crushed in someone's mouth, someone you know, is something that doesn't happen on a normal day!
The criminal felt like he was going to lose his mind. He was going to vomit at this, but he held himself back in case they'd eat that too. He had to watch as the hero and maiden chewed on wasps and butterflies until they were full, he had to witness them eating expired and soggy food that looked like it had just been tossed into a puddle and called dinner for them.
It felt like hours before they finally stopped stuffing themselves with the pile of shit they dubbed a meal. The criminal watched as both of them began turning their gaze at him, and he begged they didn't expect him to do the same anytime soon. To his luck and disgust, the two began to grab their cups of water. Throughout the whole scene, the criminal didn't know if the water had turned into a cup of muddled oil or not. He didn't wanna witness it if it turned out to be so, yet his head refused to listen and turn away.
The hero and maiden lifted their cups and brought it to their lips, the criminal heard as both of them began to drink away at the liquid in the cup. He really hoped that the cup had water instead of something poisonous like tar.
He watched as they placed their cup down on the table, and he watched as the hero's body laid back and fell to the ground with a large thump. The criminal knew, he could see it with the way his eyes rolled back and went limp, the hero was dead and.. His final meal was a plate of bugs. It was terrifying, it was disturbing.. The criminal shot his gaze at the maiden and hoped that she wouldn't do the same. She was still sitting peacefully with a blood stained smile on her face, but she was alive.
The criminal made a move to hold her, to wish and beg for her to live, but he watched as his hand made no contact and her body fell to the ground.
The next thing Hakuji knew, he was waking up in a cold sweat. Almost immediately, he sat up on the futon, darting his eyes around for something familar.
There was no dinner, there were no bugs, there was no rotten scraps of food, not for him. It took him a minute to realize that the dinner truly was a dream, that Keizo and Koyuki hadn't actually been eating bugs before their death. Their last meal.. It might as well have been the same as the dream. Poisonous.
Hakuji dreaded it already, the dream, it was creepy and nauseating.. It was absolutely disgusting. He could still recall the sight of Keizo's teeth infested with spider legs.. Combined with the fact that Keizo and Koyuki were actually dead too.. Hakuji just couldn't escape from reality huh?
Koyuki and Keizo, his wife and his master, the maiden and the hero.. They were really, actually, undoubtedly, dead! Now it was only the criminal left alive.
Hakuji wanted to laugh it off, pretend it was a nightmare in a nightmare because the hero and the maiden always lived in the end! They were the important ones, they were the pure of heart.. In all the stories Hakuji's seen because of Keizo, that's always what happened. There'd always be a good ending in those books..
But this was real life. Nothing was guaranteed so you had to fight to get a higher chance of it happening.
Hakuji did fight, he fought as hard as he could. He fought and stole from all those people to have a higher chance of getting money for his father. He fought a Dojo with Keizo so Koyuki had a better chance of being safe. He fought and trained with Keizo so he would get a better chance at being stronger, a better chance at protecting those he loved.
Yet, even with all his strength, even with all of his hard fought battles, he still lost them. He lost his father, he lost Koyuki, and he lost Keizo. His fighting didn't help their chances, it didn't change a thing! They were still dead! Hung and poisoned all because of the selfish world around them!
Hakuji didn't help! Hakuji didn't do anything! His fighting, his battles, they were useless. They didn't serve a purpose at all because they still ended up dead.. So Hakuji was going to give them a purpose. To beat the ever-loving shit out of those Dojo Weaklings, to get revenge for Keizo and Koyuki.. It was what drove Hakuji to continue now. To get revenge. He was aware that the concept was bad. He was aware to not 'fight fire with fire'. He was aware of all of that, he wasn't that dumb..
But that didn't mean Hakuji didn't want to do it. It was tempting, it was luring him in and Hakuji would gladly take the bait knowing it would kill him in the end.
His eyes focused in on his surroundings, shaking off the fear from the nightmare that awoke him.
It wasn't the dojo, that's for sure, the wood and room was much newer than the rotting walls of Keizo's Dojo. So Hakuji wondered where he was.. Until he remembered the man that had knocked him out. Fireball, he would dub the man for now because of his bright fucking hair, was nowhere to be seen. Only half-lit walls revealed themselves to Hakuji, and he couldn't discern which one was the door to leave, so he took a break from the exterior of the room.
He glanced down to see a small cup of water by his futon, as well as a note beside it. Hakuji made no motion to grab the water and simply took the note instead. He didn't feel like consuming anything.. Hakuji rubbed his eyes to fully erase his slumbered vision before properly reading the note.
"Hey," it read, "sorry for knocking you out." he squinted at that.
Now Hakuji knew who made this note, it was Fireball.
"Don't leave this room, I will be with you in a moment." Hakuji gritted his teeth and crumpled the paper in his hand at the words. 'Don't leave this room', this guy really expected Hakuji to do just that huh? He left Hakuji alone in a room, all by himself, with what looked to be no guards, just from the little trust they had. Which was barely any. Seriously, Hakuji attacked the man and the man knocked Hakuji out. He interrupted Hakuji from going to the Dojo.. Was this man stupid or something?
As Hakuji prepared to pull his covers off of him, he heard a noise from one of the walls.
Turns out, the wall wasn't a wall and in fact the door to the room instead! The figure that opened it stood still in the frame and the soft light that entered the room threw Hakuji off guard.
He shielded his eyes and instinctively dove under the covers. Keizo used to always do this to wake Hakuji up, let the sunlight in and bathe him in it before they started breakfast and training. Hakuji never really enjoyed it, but..
"You're awake." a man's voice, Hakuji noticed, and Hakuji recognized it after a moment..
Fireball.
Hakuji tore the covers off of himself after realizing that this was the man who knocked him out in the first place! He sat up once again and squinted further as the figure stepped into the room and shut the door behind him. Now Hakuji could get a better look at him.
Fireball was wearing a plain red yukata and the usual indoor sandals. His hair was still as bright and fiery as Hakuji remembered, it'd be quite hard to miss. It was the whole reason 'Fireball' was his name right now!
Hakuji, for one, has never met anyone with anything like it. So definitely hard to miss.. Along with this, there was a slight stubble on the man's chin and his eyes were the same as his hair, a fiery blaze. Did this man have a fixation with anything the color of fire? His hair was the color of fire, his eyes were the color of fire, and his yukata was also red!
Hakuji didn't understand the appeal..
"You read my note?" Fireball asked, and Hakuji glared at him in return.
This man was the one who had knocked Hakuji out, he was the one that kidnapped him and brought him here, he was the one who stopped.. Who stopped Hakuji from killing those weaklings for taking away Keizo and Koyuki. Hakuji made a move to stand up, but he was pushed back down by Fireball's hand. When did he move beside Hakuji?
"Sit." he demanded, Hakuji didn't want to. He guessed Fireball understood that by the way his hand stayed on Hakuji's shoulder.
"Who are you?" Hakuji asked, pushing Fireball's hand off his shoulder before leaning forward.
"Answer me first," Fireball crouched beside Hakuji, leveling with his current size. It made Hakuji feel small. "do you believe revenge is a good thing?"
Hakuji stared for a second. He just had this debate with himself a moment ago.
Revenge, the concept of getting back at someone for what they've done to you or someone else. Was committing revenge a good thing? No. Did Hakuji still want to do it? Yes.
Hakuji knew that getting back at someone wasn't wasn't healthy or good at all. He knew killing those people would do no good upon Keizo and Koyuki's deaths, all the good it would do is potentially save someone else's life.. But that wasn't why Hakuji was doing it.
Hakuji wanted to pursue it, not for the potential to save someone, not purely for the vengeance of Koyuki and Keizo.. Purely, Hakuji was still doing this for them. However, Hakuji was also doing this for himself. For his own satisfaction. He had stated so multiple times.
Hakuji had nothing else, that Dojo had taken everything from him. They took his master, they took his wife, they would've soon taken the Dojo too since Keizo was now dead. Hakuji had nothing. He was alone. He was wandering once again. So the only thing Hakuji could do was get revenge. The only thing that could satisfy him was revenge. The only thing that he could for Koyuki and Keizo, was get revenge..
He wanted a form of allevation.
"No," Hakuji finally responded, and Fireball raised an eyebrow at his answer. Hakuji continued. "but that doesn't mean I won't do it." Fireball stared at him solemnly.
"Well get the thought out of your mind kid." Hakuji wanted to make a snarky response to that, but his thoughts were cut off when he was grabbed by the hair and pulled closer to Fireball, wincing. "I brought you here to keep you from doing that and I don't plan to fail." reflexively, Hakuji went to punch the man in the face. Before he could do so, however, Fireball let go and backed off before his fist could collide. He was now standing once again.
"It's good that you know revenge is bad, at least I don't have to explain that to you." Fireball scoffed, annoyed at Hakuji.
"So Hakuji,"
Fireball knew his name?
"it's not worth it. If you know revenge isn't good, then why proceed with it?"
Wasn't it obvious?
"It's the only thing I can do." he smirked, looking up at the now standing man. "I have nothing else! They killed them, they poisoned them!" he shook the covers off of his legs and stood up to meet Fireball on his feet. Hakuji probably looked hysterical right now, like a deranged criminal waiting to pounce. He was a man with nothing else anymore, so he's going to kill the people who took everything away. When you put it in that light, was it truly bad? It's just karma.
"So what's a little pay back?" Hakuji found his hands forming a fist once again. Nails digging themselves into Hakuji's skin to keep him grounded using pain. Fireball's face didn't change, actually, he was even more annoyed.. Good.
"You plan to kill them, would that make you any better then they are?" Fireball argued, Hakuji saw no point.
"I don't care." Hakuji bit back.
Fireball tsked at that.
"If you fight all of them, you might die."
Another useless statement.
"I don't care!" he shouted back.
"Wouldn't they want you to live and make them proud?"
Hakuji blinked, eyebrows furrowing in response.
What did Fireball know about Koyuki and Keizo? What did he know about his father?
Hakuji was just about to punch him when the memory shot up from the back of his mind.
"Live a fulfilling life," the words rang in his head, the letter his father had given him. He had forgotten, but it didn't matter now. Right?
"If it's earned by dishonest means I don't-" Hakuji felt his eyes widening.
He had completely forgotten exactly why his father died. He forgot why his father hung himself in their house that day. He forgot how those were his father's last words.. Live a life. Live a life without dishonesty and worry. Live a happy and fulfilling life without him.. Look how far he's gotten without you father.
Hakuji bit the inside of his cheek, his canines pressed against the mark from earlier. The heartbreak made him shake. He should cry, he wanted to cry, he wanted to cry in their arms and beg for forgiveness.
Forgiveness for forgetting. Forgiveness for attempting to use his master's style, which was originally made to protect the weak, to hurt others. Forgiveness for breaking his promise to Koyuki and letting her die without him. Forgiveness for engaging his father's suicide because of his actions that brought his father sorrow. Forgiveness for almost doing it again..
He felt something wet slide down his face and his mind processed that it was tears. Hakuji was crying, he was vulnerable and weak in front of Fireball. He felt naked, revealed and helpless as the tears kept falling from his eyes.. But Hakuji didn't care, much like before. He didn't care as his tears welled up, he didn't care as his breath shrilled from despair, he didn't care that he was defenseless in front of someone he hated..
He just wanted to apologize right now.
He wanted to tell them how sorry he was, he wanted to see them and hug them for one last time. He wanted all of it, but he knew he didn't deserve it..
Through his blurry vision, Hakuji could make out Fireball moving. Soon enough, Hakuji felt himself being pulled forward and arms wrapping around him in an embrace, a hug.
Fireball was hugging Hakuji and Hakuji couldn't understand why. He had literally just annoyed the shit out of this man and had tried to contradict everything he said.
Why? Why was he being so nice?
Fireball didn't have to take Hakuji in, in fact, he could've left him stranded on the streets. With Hakuji's sense of direction, he would've died and there would still be no causalities. Fireball was being nice and Hakuji couldn't comprehend it. Why?
It was just like Keizo.
Keizo could've put Hakuji in jail, Keizo could've not taken Hakuji in at all, yet his master still did. He remembered in the past asking the same thing. Why? Why was Keizo such a kind person? He never ended up finding the answer, he just too blinding. He was so pure and Hakuji got swept up in it that it left him, a demon, docile. Would it be there same?
Is this another chance that Hakuji didn't deserve?
He couldn't take it, he doesn't deserve it, he..
"Live a fufilling life." it echoed in his brain. He still didn't deserve it, but it was being handed to him like candy. He felt bad. He felt horrible. He felt selfish..
But it was still another chance. A chance given to him. He didn't know what Fireball wanted, he didn't know what this other chance was, but he was going to take it. For the sake of trying to save at least one broken promise..
Soon after, Hakuji cried himself to sleep in Fireball's arms.
Notes:
Shit ending amiright?
Hope you enjoyed friends~